Reps. McDonald Rivet, Scholten Call on the Trump Administration to Continue Food Assistance During Shutdown

WASHINGTON— Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) and Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-03) are leading Michigan Democrats in calling on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins to use contingency funds to continue food assistance for families in Michigan and across the country during the federal government shutdown.

“While we fight for a budget that lowers costs and addresses skyrocketing health care premiums, the Administration is making a deliberate decision to let families go hungry,” said Congresswoman McDonald Rivet. “Congress previously appropriated emergency funds that should allow SNAP benefits to continue to feed hungry families. The Trump Administration needs to use them.”

The USDA has instructed the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to pause Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food assistance until further notice due to the shutdown. However, the USDA has contingency funds that have already been authorized by Congress, which can be used to continue SNAP benefits and ensure Michiganders do not go hungry. Nearly 13% of Michigan households, or 1.4 million people, rely on SNAP, nearly half of which are families with children.

The letter from the lawmakers reads, in part, “SNAP is one of the most proven tools to effectively reduce food insecurity throughout our nation. As such, the USDA must utilize its contingency fund to empower Americans in putting nutritious meals on tables while lifting families–who are already struggling to afford housing, health care, and other critical bills–out of poverty. SNAP is vital for families and individuals' access to food across Michigan, with approximately 13 percent of Michigan households, or 1.4 million people, receiving these benefits… By directing MDHHS to temporarily pause the issuance of these critical SNAP benefits in November, USDA will be putting Michigan’s most vulnerable in harm’s way.”

A copy of the letter can be found here. 

Joining Representatives McDonald Rivet and Scholten on the letter to Secretary Rollins are Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Shri Thanedar (MI-13). 

Congresswoman McDonald Rivet has championed access to food assistance for families in Michigan and across the country:

• As a member of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture – which oversees the USDA as well as food assistance programs like SNAP – Congresswoman McDonald Rivet adamantly fought against legislation that slashed $200 billion from SNAP earlier this year.
• The Congresswoman recently signed on to a letter from 214 Members of Congress to Secretary Rollins demanding USDA utilize the SNAP contingency funds during the shutdown.